postpartum care

Mother’s day is filled with brunches, free admission for mothers to family events and adorable handmade presents from school and daycare. But what about some alone time too? Here are my top three ways you can refill your cup in Green Bay by supporting local and spoiling yourself!

Hope Della Skincare

801 Hoffman Road

Green Bay, Wisconsin

If you haven’t heard of this brow magician you are truly missing out. Hope is a lovely person with a talent for making you look your best. She’s offering a limited edition Blackberry Vanilla Bean Facial available only the week of Mother’s Day! Savor the bursting fruit scents of blackberries followed by soothing vanilla bean aromas with this anti-aging, hydrating, and firming treatment.

For $65.00 ($80+ value), you’ll be treated to a mimosa (or sparkling cider), a 60 minute limited edition relaxing facial, a complimentary brow wax, and a special gift to take home.

Available by appointment only May 14-May 18. To schedule this special, please TEXT Hope at 920-403-0013 or EMAIL hope@hopedellaskin.com

I can’t even describe my excitement when I heard that Mom Tribe, Stephanie, and Lodge Kohler were teaming up! Take the evening to yourself and indulge in some serious SELF CARE! Join Mom Tribe along with the Green Bay Area Mom’s Blog & Stephanie Rudolph to chat about the importance of community & self care all while enjoying some R&R.

We have a special block of appointments from 4-8pm

Book your appointments directly with Olive Galiano at

(920)327-4605 or OLIVE.GALIANO@kohler.com

ENJOY 20% OFF your booked service for the event!

Never been to the Waters Spa at The Lodge Kohler? Well, you are in for a treat! Book any service to have access to the entire facility from 8am-8pm (remember, book a service during our event and also score 20% OFF)! Would like to attend the event but skip a service? For only $40 you can enjoy all the amenities and mingle with the ladies!

Weiler Academy– You have heard me talk about the float pods but did you know there is more waiting for you? Great gift options for you and a friend or spoil yourself! They look all the hard work have selected our favorite services designed to let her rest, rejuvenate and relax. Their spa services utilize award-winning natural and holistic products and services from top European and domestic spas to create a special oasis here in Green Bay.

It’s that time of year… time to become bears and hibernate until it is warm again. No? Okay so maybe we cannot hibernate but we can stay warm. We of course know what it takes to keep us toasty and comfortable but a baby may be a little bit more difficult. No worries, check out these tips!

IN THE CAR:
Coats in carseats are dangerous, it greatly increases the babies risk of injury in an accident, but there are other ways to keep your little one warm. Dress you baby in thin layers and tuck a blanket around them once they are correctly secured into their seats. On cold days a fleece sleeper can be used for extra warmth. For more information on winter and car seat safety guidelines from the AAP

OUTDOORS:
If out and about in the frosty a good rule of thumb is to add an extra layer to what makes you comfortable (reasonably, maybe more if you are a polar bear.) If playing in the snow, ensure you add a waterproof snowsuit with attached feet.
Also, stay aware and watch for signs of discomfort and cold, such as tear filled eyes ( not necessarily crying), shivering, or cold skin. It’s okay if you need to cut your outdoor time short in order to warm up!HOME:
The extra layer rule is also good here. Even though you maybe tempted to bundle baby up, remember the “ideal” temperature is 68-72* F. You can always check by placing your hand on babies tummy or back, they should be warm but not sweaty. Keeping your baby from overheating and using a zip style sleeping sack or a footed sleeper, rather than blankets which can cover baby’s face, are a few of the suggestions made by American Pediatric Associations for the prevention of SIDS.Hopefully these tips will help you and baby enjoy the upcoming winter and holiday season.

I took a vacation this summer and I didn’t take my family. Having young children is hard and you start to lose your identity between all the drop offs, pick ups, activities, kids birthday parties, doctors appointments, household chores and juggling a career. Not to mention growing with your partner through all of these changes as well. I needed a break. I needed some respite. I needed to reconnect with me. Who am I? Who have I grown into as I settle into my 30’s? I heard everything from: “How will your husband survive?”, to “You must not breastfeed if you aren’t taking your baby!”, and “You’re leaving your children?!”

Yes, I took a 4 day trip out the country to have some me time. This is the hardest (and most rewarding) time in our lives with young children, being an entrepreneur, a wife, maybe in that

order sometimes… In 10 years when I look back, it will just be a skid mark in my life’s story… but how many of us feel like we are drowning at times? How many of us take the time for self-care? In the last 5 years of my life, I’ve gotten married, moved back into my childhood home, I’ve carried two humans over 40 weeks each time, I’ve had a cesarean, a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean), I’ve breastfed a total of 3 years and counting. My body has new curves, my clothes fit differently, my taste in food has only gotten spicier, my circle of friends has shifted and evolved, and who have I become in all of this?

I took a trip to Canada, to the land of nice people. True story, my friend literally got into a “you go first, no you go first” match with a pedestrian who was in the middle of the street, while trying we were waiting to make a right turn! Her husband took their children up to their cabin for the time I was there. Two mothers, with a total of 4 kids under the age of 6, without children or husbands for 4 days…. what do you do?! You go to the movies! You get your nails done! You spend over 2 hours eating at an all you can eat brunch buffet with live jazz music and chat with other adults! You stand in line for almost 2 hours just to get on the elevations at the CN Tower, in Toronto. You go to Niagra falls and eat a fancy dinner, 77 floors above the falls in a revolving dining room, where your waiter is French and you can order escargot, and drink wine. You sleep in. You sleep without having anyone waking you up. You take long showers, and sit on the patio for hours talking, without worry, without judgment, and reconnect with yourself.

One thing doula work has taught me is the art of unbiased support. Imagine if we all lived our lives with non-judgmental mindsets. There would be no more ‘mommy wars”. Instead, when I got on that plane I would have heard: “Good for you taking some time for yourself.”, “Enjoy your vacation!”, and “Send lots of pictures!”

As mothers with young children I want to give you permission to enjoy life, don’t get caught up in the judgment. Take time for you and forget the double standards. Taking a break from all the responsibility is healthy, it’s normal, and we need to do it more often!

When I touched back down in Green Bay I was refreshed. I was reconnected, but who am I kidding– my checked luggage was filled with souvenirs for my kids, 100 oz of pumped breastmilk, and Kinder Eggs. Take time for you, get to know yourself again, and enjoy the chaos that is having young children.

Preparing for a new member of the family we get asked all the time, what is the number one thing you suggest we do now? We always respond with a quick… MEAL PREP!

Meal prep is perfect for quick dinners with a little prep work, you can save time later and still have an amazing meal with minimal effort. This round of recipes are all quick freezer ready meals for the crockpot, casseroles in the oven, and one pot meals. Easy for those who also want to make something for a friend as the best postpartum gift you can give!

Teaming up with local food blogger Ashley Lecker of Cheese Curd in Paradise for some of her favorite and easy meal prep ideas. If you love these ideas, she does regular meal planning on her blog, giveaways, and I have to say I’ve never had a bad meal when she’s suggested it. Ashley has been featured in Taste of Home, Wisconsin CSA, Festival Foods, Reader’s digest, featured in various sponsor recipes for national brands and her blog has 25,000 views monthly. Enjoy these 5 simple recipes and stay tuned for more meal prep ideas!

CROCKPOT

Tex-Mex Chicken–

Instructions

Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker and sprinkle taco seasoning over the top. Layer the other ingredients evenly over the chicken, except the cream cheese.

Cook on high for 4-6 hours or low for 8 hours.

Remove chicken from slow cooker, shred and return to slow cooker. Add cream cheese, stir, cover and continue to cook on high for 30 minutes. Stir well and over rice with desired toppings.

Freezer modification: Place all ingredients in a freezer-safe zip lock. When you are ready to make it, thaw and follow preparation directions.

Pesto Ranch Chicken

Ingredients

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 cup prepared pesto

1 package Ranch Dressing Mix

1/2 cup chicken broth

Instructions

Place chicken breasts into crockpot. Mix pesto, ranch dressing, and chicken broth into crock pot. Stirring gently to combine all seasonings. Cover with the lid and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Tip: Sprinkle some feta on top!

Freezer Modification: Place all ingredients in a ziplock and freeze. To cook, thaw and follow prep directions.

Teriyaki Chicken

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs chicken breasts

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup soy sauce

½ cup pineapple juice

1 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp minced fresh ginger

1 medium onion, chopped

Instructions

Place chicken breasts into crockpot. Sprinkle onions evenly over chicken. In a medium bowl mix all other ingredients. Pour over the chicken. Set temperature on low for 6-8 hrs.

Serve with rice.

Freezer Modification: Place all ingredients in a ziplock and freeze. To cook, thaw and follow prep directions.

In a lightly sprayed 9×13-inch pan, place half of the cooked pasta in the bottom of the dish. Spread cream cheese mixture over noodles. Top with remaining noodles. Pour meat sauce over noodles and top with mozzarella cheese.

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.

Freezer Modification: Prepare casserole in a freezer friendly pan with a cover. Thaw before baking and follow baking instructions.

Meatball Sub Casserole

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Cut biscuits into 8 pieces and spread evenly into the baking dish. Pour marinara sauce over the biscuits and stir to evenly coat. Evenly layer meatballs over the biscuits and sauce. Sprinkle with cheese.

Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until bubbly and biscuits are cooked. Remove from oven, garnish with chopped parsley, and serve.

King Crown Burrito Casserole

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set aside.

In a large rimmed skillet, brown beef with onions, peppers, and garlic. Drain excess grease. Add corn, beans, and tomatoes. Add seasonings and allow beef mixture to cook for a few minutes. Spread beef into the casserole dish and top evenly with cheese. Arrange tater crowns over the casserole.

Bake 35-40 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.

Freezer Modification: Prepare casserole in a freezer friendly pan with a cover. Thaw before baking and follow baking instructions.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Tot Casserole

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 casserole dish and set aside.

Mix cream of chicken soup, ranch packet and sour cream. Gently stir in the chicken. Spread chicken mixture evenly into the casserole dish. Top evenly with grated cheese and follow by topping with chopped bacon. Evenly arrange tater tots on top of the casserole.

Bake uncovered in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Freezer Modification: Prepare casserole in a freezer friendly pan with a cover. Thaw before baking and follow baking instructions.

One-Pot

One Pot Chili Mac

Instructions

In a medium to large pot, brown the ground beef. Drain excess grease and add remaining ingredients besides the pasta. Lightly simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in the pasta, cover and cook till pasta is tender stirring a few times to avoid sticking while the pasta cooks. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.

Serve immediately. Top portions with sour cream and grated cheese.

One Pot Chicken Feta Alfredo (source: Plain Chicken)

Instructions

In a large rimmed skillet or medium pot cook the pancetta and drain the fat. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and reduce to a simmer. Cook 15-20 minutes.

One-Pot BLT Tortellini Skillet

Instructions

Place pasta, cream, water and garlic powder into an oven safe skillet. Simmer 8-10 min until the liquid has reduced and thickened.

Add spinach, cheese, 1/2 cup tomatoes and gently stir until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper (remember you will add bacon at the end so careful with the salt).

Top with remaining cheese and Romano. Broil for 3-5 minutes. Watch the pasta carefully because it will burn easily and you want a nice light brown top.

Remove from oven and top with remaining tomatoes and chopped bacon.

Skillet Sweet and Sour Meatballs with Pineapple (Source: All Recipes)

Instructions

Open pineapple, drain, and juice. Set pineapple aside. Add water to juice if needed so it equals 1 cup; and pour into a large skillet. Add 1/3 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch; whisk until smooth.

Simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until heated through. Serve with rice.

One Pot Baked Ziti

Instructions

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a dutch oven or other heavy bottom pot, add the olive oil and cook the beef and sauce till no longer pink. If there is a heavy amount of grease, drain a bit from the pot. Add the garlic and gently stir in the uncooked pasta and marinara sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Add the water and the cream. Stir well. Bring to a slow simmer and cook for 6-7 minutes or until pasta begins to soften. Top with cheeses and cover. Bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve with a crisp green salad and crusty bread.

Also, check out this great article from our friends at Groom & Style, called Awesome Recipes That Freeze Well try these recipes out and let us know which ones were your favorite! If meal prep seems daunting, the postpartum doulas here at Green Bay Doulas are professional preppers! From making the grocery list, getting the items, and assembling them. We can help you get a leg up and fill up that freezer!

A huge thank you to Jeanette Knill, PT for guest blogging for us on this important topic!

I am a Physical Therapist that specializes in treating women with pelvic floor disorders (PFD) which means most of the women I see in the clinic have UI or pain in the pelvis, especially during intercourse.

Here are some research findings related to UI:

Nearly 30% of the female population in the US has a problem with urinary incontinence.

It takes the average woman up to 7 years before she tells her healthcare provider that she has a problem. Why? She is embarrassed or thinks it isn’t a problem because many of the women she knows also pee in their pants.

Kegel exercises are only part of the solution to help you regain continence.

Let’s talk anatomy: The pelvic floor muscle is the bottom of the body. In a female, it is the muscle structure that supports the uterus, vagina, bladder and rectum. It controls when we use the toilet and is important in sexual satisfaction. This muscle is like a hammock. It attaches in the front to the pubic bone and in the back at the tail bone. The sides attach to part of the hip bone and a hip muscle (obturator internus) on each side of the body. Other hip muscles that attach near the pelvic floor muscle are the gluteal muscles (your butt) and the piriformis muscles. The low abdominal muscles attach to the pubic bone, just above where the pelvic floor muscles attach. Your low abdominal muscles and hip muscles are very important in the functionof the pelvic floor.

Usually, the first recommendation for women who report UI is to do Kegel exercises, tightening the pelvic floor muscles like you are trying to stop pee or gas from escaping. Why gas? Remember I said the pelvic floor is a hammock from front to back. When you tighten the muscle in the front-around the urethra (where pee comes out) you also tighten the muscles in back around the anus (where gas and poop come out). The person next to you knows when you pass gas but you can hide pee in a pad! Thinking about stopping gas can send a stronger signal to the brain and gets a better contraction. Do not tighten your butt cheeks when doing a Kegel exercise.

Some other Kegel tips for success: When you tighten your pelvic floor it is a squeeze and lift. Imagine you are sitting on a grape and you want to pull it up into your vagina. Silly, right? I bet you just did it!

But…it isn’t just about Kegel exercises. Strength at the low abdominal and hip muscles are also important. Crunches are not an effective way to strengthen the low abdominal muscles. Planks and challenging the muscles with leg movements are more effective. Hip exercises that work your “butt cheeks” are beneficial. Stay tuned for future blogs that will highlight the best way to strengthen your abs and butt.

-Jeanette Knill, PT, works at Bellin Health Generations clinic as a physical therapist specializing in the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction.

November is National Adoption Month, which is a topic near and dear to my heart, as I was adopted at just 9 weeks old from the Milwaukee area. Growing up I actually had a lot of friends who were also adopted. Believe it or not, we were often asked the same common questions and I thought I would share those in hopes of bringing awareness throughout the month to many of our readers.

What are the different types of adoption?

There are actually three different forms of adoptions!

Open Adoption:This is where your family may have access to the biological families information or even remain in contact with them.

Closed Adoption: In this case, records are sealed about personal information on the biological family. Once you reach adulthood you can do a records request to see if the biological family would be interested in meeting. Sometimes this information is available and sometimes it’s not. In my case my request was denied, but I was able to get a ton of paperwork about my biological family and medical history. That was informative, but what was most significant and even more special were the papers my parents filled out as they waited for my adoption to be finalized, what they did with me, my milestones, things I never knew existed on paper.

Domestic vs International- Simply means were you born in the USA or adopted from overseas?

Was it difficult to family trees or family related school projects and activities?

Sometimes yes, and others no. My family was my family. I tailored all of my presentations to my family. My grandpa was of syrian descent and my grandmother german. I knew I was german and hungarian, but that’s about it. When you don’t have the information it’s hard to go off of, but I did my best with the info at hand.

And of course, my friends always wanted to know…

Do we really have two birthdays?

Sorta! We celebrate our birthdays and also my “gotcha day” growing up. I called this my special birthday, but others call it a Gotcha Day. Gotcha Day is the day we came home with our parents.

How do you explain adoption to children?

My mother always said it best. “You grew in my heart not my belly.” My outlook on being adopted is different then others may feel. I’m a firm believer that I was meant to be with my family and just needed a way to get there. So, yes, I grew in my mothers heart.

Also having playdates with other children and classmates who were adopted as well was probably the most beneficial part to me as a child.

So on this national adoption month do you know someone who’s adopting, was adopting or has adopted? Reach out, let them know you are glad they are in your lives!

So the all important question,

How do we, as doulas, support adoption?

Before Baby: We are available before baby is welcomed as Antepartum Support Doulas. We can help create an amazing space in the home of the family adopting the newest addition by setting up furniture, the nursery and helping you talk through feelings and emotions. We can also provide support to the biological mother or surrogate by talking through or going with her to doctor appointments and supporting her emotionally.

Throughout Labor: We support the biological mother or surrogate on her journey to birth in whatever capacity she may need, whether that’s physically or emotionally.

Once Baby Is Born And The Postpartum Period : We help with the transition when parents bring home baby with the use of postpartum care. Working with them to set up a routine or settle into their new parenting roles. We can also aide in the support of the biological mother or surrogate once home helping them with self care for healing both physically and emotionally. We can assist with general recovery, lactation support to either stop or pump, an ear to listen, and our extensive list of referrals. We have even encapsulated for a surrogate who was planning on pumping for the baby.

If you would like to hear more about the support doulas can provide during the adoption process I would be more than happy to answer questions! Feel free to contact us at info@greenbaydoulas.com

If you are a Shameless fan like we are, you saw in the season 7 premiere that Debbie hired a night nurse so she can get some sleep. Typically a night nurse or night nanny is someone who takes care of the baby in the evening so the parents can get some sleep. But, what if I told you there was such a profession where a trained professional came into your house who

1- Was an expert in newborn care,

2- Knew how to support a mother in recovery from childbirth,

AND

3- Took care of the family as a WHOLE!

Enter the Postpartum Doula!

A normal daytime shift (averaging 4-8 hours) can look like a number of things, but is not limited to:

An unbiased ear to listen to concerns

Meal prep

Sibling support

Nap for mother

Self care for mother

Breast/bottle feeding, formula feeding, basic lactation support

Light housework

Extra hands for errands or doctors appointments

Cesarean support

Newborn and baby care

Just to name a few!

And the support of overnights (10 hour shift) while parents rest:

Breastfeeding support

Bottle feeding support

Meal prep

Light housework

Baby care

And sleep for both parents!

What you can expect with a Postpartum Doula? Personalized care! Families often seek support for high needs babies such as colic or silent reflux, special needs, support during teething, transitioning back to work, sleep regressions and sickness, and adjusting to adoption and multiples! The goal of a Postpartum Doula is to support the parenting approach that fits your lifestyle best. Every family’s needs are different which is why we have a postpartum planning session with each family to learn about the family dynamics, feeding style, parenting style and how best to support your family during the first year of a new addition.The beauty of a Postpartum Doula is that they help the family as a whole offering their expertise by lending a hand and helping a family transition into their new roles as parents, siblings and even furbabies!

While postpartum care is typically seen as a luxury item for many families, it’s simply about having a plan and making a budget. You may consider sitting down and discussing a postpartum plan even before your beautiful bundle arrives so that you can be as prepared as possible entering into this new chapter! Everyone plans for the arrival, but what about the weeks and months after your little one is here, Postpartum Doulas are happy to help!

Why make the investment? One of our clients explains it best so we’ll share his quote with you, “My wife is home all day with the baby and when she’s well rested she’s a better mother and wife and that’s what is important to me!” Utilizing a postpartum doula can be different for each family. Whether it’s full time, part time or as needed; we want you to thrive during this time, not just survive.

What if the workout you’re doing in your first trimester isn’t as doable during your third trimester? There’s no need to feel defeated if you aren’t able to be as active as you were pre-pregnancy, or even a month ago because we have a secret and we are so excited to share it with you!

Brooke McMillan is the owner of Pure Barre – Green Bay, which is one of over 350 locations in the USA & Canada, the website states that “Each Pure Barre class is 55 minutes and begins with a warm-up in the center of the room, on the floor, and then standing with light weights to work those arm muscles. We’ll then move to the barre to work your thighs and your seat. After the seat work, you’ll do a series of ab exercises, followed by a cool down. While the flow of class is always the same, we are always changing the music and exercises, so you never experience the same class twice!”

“I took a class a few weeks ago at 18 weeks along, and I was impressed with how fast the class went, how low impact it is but man could I feel it the next day. Yes did I feel like a fish out of water sometimes? Sure, but that’s where it makes you want to come again, learn the technique and keep going. I had to modify a few things but I was able to complete the class, and if I can do it, you can do it. Great music, great atmosphere and it’s ok to look at the gal next to you with this look of ‘How did I get myself into this?’ because we are all in it together, you feel the burn, you push yourself and you keep at it.” – Emily J.

They have packages for new clients, teachers, monthly and yearly packages and even a class on just learning the technique. Here are some great blogs from the Pure Barre blog so check them out.

Now that we got this HUGE secret off our chests, we are excited to invite you to experience it first-hand!

On May 2nd, at 7:00pm we are having a Pure Barre class with the Green Bay Doulas. This is the perfect opportunity for you to come and experience the class, meet your doulas, and ask any questions you have!

This class is open to all mothers, expecting mothers, new mothers, and those who just want to come and join us. ***Space is extremely limited so please email greenbay@purebarre.com to sign up.

We are excited to let you in on the secret and hope to see you May 2nd. As always we are here to help you find the secrets of Green Bay that support you during your pregnancy and after so please reach out and we hope to hear from you soon!

When I was expecting my first child I was already a certified doula in both birth and postpartum. Unfortunately, I was the only one in my area who was. I knew I would need help, but there was no one to take on the full role of a postpartum doula.

As my guess date approached, I filled my freezer with meals, I got everything set and ready. My husband gets a week off, we can do this! My plans for a homebirth went to the wayside after 4 days of prodromal labor and a baby who was in a less than favorable position to be born at home. We welcomed our baby girl born via cesarean birth and once home from the hospital my husband needed to return to work. The four unexpected days in labor plus the hospital stay had used up all of my husband’s time off.

Here I was, 3 day old newborn, unable to move as I was recovering from a cesarean birth with my front door unlocked hoping anyone would walk in and have a meal for me or allow me a minute to shower. I sat wishing for even a moment of help just to stand up and go to the bathroom.

Now I’m sure you’re asking why not reach out to your family? Where were your friends? Simple answer of today’s generation; I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone, but would I have called up a postpartum doula in 30 secs? You bet! As for family, not everyone has that luxury. My mother had passed away four years previous, my in-laws lived 90 minutes away and were coming in a few days. I needed the help now! Their attention was going to be on my baby and I needed the focus on my well-being AND the baby. All of my friends were amazing, brought me a meal almost everyday, checked in via Facebook, but they had their own families to worry about too!

With all that said here are my thoughts on why I really could have used a postpartum doula:

*She’s NOT judging my messy house! In fact she would do my dishes, fold laundry and help with the small things that would make my life easier. She can rifle through my cupboards and not judge why the glasses are here and plates over there.

*I breastfed and even though I have education in it, I still needed my friend to help me with checking latch because seeing and doing are two different things. When you’re sleep deprived you question yourself more often than not.

*She’s someone to ask me how I was doing, and then ask about baby second.

*When I got a UTI infection I needed a friend to come with me and carry my baby to the doctor’s office because I couldn’t lift or move my body to get my baby in and out of a car. My doula would have been there to do that and I wouldn’t have had to ask I friend to drop everything for my boring doctor appointment.

*A NAP! I could have gotten a nap or two knowing someone was watching my baby so I could catch up on sleep and not worry, when will this person have to leave? How long are they staying? Will they have to bring their kids too?

*I don’t have to play house guest with a postpartum doula. I can stay in my bed shirtless cuddling my baby knowing someone is there if I need something.

*Remember those freezer meals I prepared, she’s willing to go into my basement, grab it and throw it in the oven for me.

*Resources- endless resources! She could refer me to any local resources I may need.

Those are a few of my own personal reasons, now as a postpartum doula who will hire one next time around, here are the things I know I can look forward too.

*My future postpartum doula will play with my other children to allow me to bond with my newborn OR hold my newborn while I play and spend some much needed time with the older children.

*I WILL hire an overnight doula- she can spend the night! And when/if my “3rd shift baby” needs a play pal there she will be so that I can rest knowing my doula will get me when baby needs a feeding or maybe bottlefeed for me so I can grab a few extra hours.

*She will help my husband get a break

*She can run some errands for me or come with me to help me acclimate to two children in a grocery store.

*She will help me keep my house in some order or at the very least presentable!

*She will be there for me, however I need her and whenever I need her.

As a society we need to start being ok with asking for help, we need to understand the saying of it takes a village is actually true and not some wives tale. Our parents are retiring at a much later age than our grandparents did, we as a generation are transient and move to different cities now, where our families aren’t readily available. We have little to no time off from work where all industrialized nations have almost a year of maternity leave PAID! We wonder why our postpartum depression rates are so high, and yet still refuse to take care of ourselves. It’s time to start the conversation, to talk about postpartum doulas and why they are worth it, because mama YOU are worth it!

What Our Clients Are Saying

I have cried so much today and felt like an absolute failure. You’ve already helped me a million times more than I expected via text at 9:30 at night. Honestly, thank you so very much. You’re in the right field and all the mommas out there are lucky to have you. S raves about you and I can see why. Thank you!

April 17, 2018

I cannot even express how happy I am that I found Emily and the Green Bay Doulas in time for my pregnancy and delivery!! They could not have been more enjoyable, wonderful, knowledgeable and caring. Not only were they on top of their game but they became friends.

Emily gave me insight at every corner from being breech to getting me in for maternity photos with the brilliant Kristy Reuter (Kristy Reuter Photography) to having the baby’s heart drop drastically during delivery (while explaining everything to Nick while he was stressed himself), to helping me during sleepless nights to my baby’s lip and tongue being tied to belly binding to placenta encapsulation to baby wearing, everything, everything, everything. She made me feel strong and normal when some things were unnerving and frightening. She was always there for us day and night. And what an amazing personality and sense of humor!!

I think the placenta encapsulation and tincture were such a saving grace. Coincidentally the last day of my placenta capsules was the 1st day back at the office when my baby boy was 14 weeks. They gave me the energy to nurse my baby day and throughout the night and to feel decent and present enough to enjoy my baby and take in all the delightful things about him rather than being exhausted and just going through the motions.

I still recall my baby’s different charming ways each day because from one day to the next he had many new ways about him. I want to remember it all and taking the capsules enabled me to feel energetic and enthused enough to relish it all!!!! Thanks to having this extra boost, I have had some fun even in the middle of the night and embraced motherhood wholeheartedly!

I cannot say enough about The Green Bay Doulas. Emily, Chelsea, and Whitney have been a blessing every step of this journey. They are all incredibly bright, informative, funny, gracious and full of genuinely amazing personality. Most importantly, they will zap any of your stress!!! They all have exceptional credentials. For example, Chelsea is a surgical labor and delivery nurse even!!! My experience is top notch and I even think the services are quite reasonable and affordable for all that you will receive.

The post partum care was of immeasurable benefit. You can book hours to use over a certain time frame to have a doula come to your home day or night so you may sleep, have someone wonderful cook or bake for you, pick up some groceries, share their tried and true techniques, have this professional of babies take care of your child so you may have some much needed time with your husband. They will even do an overnight to feed your baby or, if you’re nursing, change, wake you and swaddle just like in the hospital so you can be your best during the day.

I could not be any happier with The Green Bay Doulas!!

January 9, 2018

"I've called a lot of different doulas and doula agencies and Green Bay Doulas are by far the most accommodating, kind, human. They continue to exceed my expectations. I honestly don't know what we would have done without them."

October 2, 2017

"Doulas supported us before during and after. It was like having another pair of hands to help support my wife. I also think encapsulation is so helpful after birth and it helped our transition with both boys" - Ron, Husband of labor and postpartum client

June 23, 2016

"I want to share an experience I had yesterday. I hired a postpartum doula Sam. (Very reasonable!) I was not sure when or why I would need her but I thought I would give it a shot. She came at 8 am. I was able to take a relaxing bath while she played with my children. I then bathed my kids while she did my overdo dishes. I was then able to tidy up around the house while she ran all my errands and pick up the children's lunch. She helped me get them fed and cleaned up that mess too. All of this with good conversation. This was truly a treat and would recommend it to anyone. I was so far ahead last night I sat down with extra energy wondering what I should be doing. I do have coupons for Sam if anyone is interested. I highly recommend this... It was a weight lifted off my shoulders. Our baby is already 3 months but does not like to be set down so I was at peace knowing I could get a few things done while someone loved her up. Thanks Sam! And Green Bay Doulas!"

Stephanie - Shawano, WIFebruary 24, 2016

"I felt like I had a teammate alongside me. On the nights she was here, she always left with us better then when she arrived. She made the evening hours stress-free and then allowed me to focus on baby while she help to get my home in a great place and my older son entertained"

January 11, 2016

"Thanks for your support and guidance as we figured it all out... nursing was the hardest and most unexpected challenge we faced postpartum and having resources like you was the only way we were able to keep it going to make it work. thank you!"

January 11, 2016

"Postpartum care. Hands down the BEST decision I made with bringing baby #2 home (with a toddler). Emily helped ease the transition of a newborn into the family and gave amazing recommendations on getting my toddler to be an active-helpful-understanding big brother. Not to mention the extra hands helping around the house so I could take 10 minutes to myself!"